The secret of Lommel coffee...
Ingredients for one glass:
- Lommel coffee liqueur (available at Visit Lommel)
- Hot, freshly brewed coffee
- Tall, transparent coffee glass
- Cocoa powder
- Extra: a stencil with the letter "L" cut out
Steps:
- Pour 80 ml of liqueur into a tall, transparent coffee glass.
- Add hot, freshly brewed coffee and mix.
- Top with a generous layer of fresh, unsweetened cream.
- For an extra touch: sprinkle a light layer of cocoa powder over the cream using the "L" stencil.
Enjoy!
Origin of Lommel coffee
The development of Lommel coffee was an initial initiative within the culinary actions of the "Tafelen in Vlaanderen" project. Candidates were required to use a glass from the GlazenHuis glassblower's studio for their presentation and include Klotsenbos gin as one of the basic ingredients. A jury, composed of a delegation from the city council and a public jury of 12 interested residents, convened on November 15, 2008, and preferred the coffee presentation by Danny Smits, owner of Hotel-Tavern-Restaurant Lommel Broek. He presented a unique combination of coffee with gin, liqueurs, and fresh cream.
Klotsenbos
Klotsenbos, also known as Sambucus nigra, is the local name for an elderberry bush. This versatile shrub or small tree has an irregular crown and grooved bark. It thrives in almost all soils and requires little light. During the flowering season, it produces richly fragrant, creamy white flower clusters, followed by glossy black fruits 5 to 7 mm in diameter.
Klotsenbos is the local name for an elderberry bush.
The flowers and berries are still used to make delicious wines, liqueurs, jams, syrups, and teas, rich in vitamin C. The flowers and bark are used as a remedy for coughs and as a laxative. Dyes are extracted from various parts of the shrub. The soft pith is used by botanists, and the hard, yellowish-white wood is suitable for making various objects.
Although Klotsenbos is common, it is often overlooked and undervalued despite its many useful properties.
